Snapchat is like King Julien in the animated movie Madagascar – who knows the fun side of exploring the jungle campus.
Whether you have seen the movie or not, as a university teacher, I was also skeptical of using Snapchat for higher education.
I wanted to explore its advantages because nowadays youngsters love Snap filters and the option to change Snapchat location whenever they want.
Moreover, in the staff room, there has been a growing discussion about a few universities also using Snapchat for engaging with students.
Their experiment improved student’s visual learning, got better attendance in class, updated learners about scholarships, etc.
Keeping these benefits in mind, I am sharing 5 insights of incorporating Snapchat as a teaching and learning tool at your university.
Experiment with Visual Learning
Visual learning encompasses experimenting with images, videos, and GIFs, including online filters.
One example of this is kids learning with colorful alphabet-shaped toys or playing with Legos, which helps them understand problem-solving.
In fact, a study showed that
“On average, after three days, we can recall 10 to 20% of a spoken word, only 10% of a written but an astonishing 65% of a visual image (Joyce, Showers, 1989).”
It proves that visualization is the most natural way of educating a person of any age. But can it also work on university students preparing for scholarship exams, which are all text-based?
Well, Snapchat filters are colorful, fun, and interesting. Using this method helps learners understand concepts in a creative and engaging way.
When they retain this information, it influences their perspective to take an interest in the subject rather than only studying to pass examinations.
Improve Attendance or Boost Enrollment
Though Snapchat is only for fun, it can be utilized to help students get to know their campus in a better way.
When learners see a healthy study environment, they are eager to come to the college, which improves attendance.
It also gives a glimpse of campus life to international students who may be thinking of enrolling in a foreign university.
Snapchat Tip
You can encourage current students to post videos about their campus life or library with the hashtag of the university’s name to boost connections.
Increase Interaction with Students
One thing that every marketer suggests works on Snapchat is instant engagement. If they can use it to connect with their customers, it can be utilized by universities to interact with students.
It needs a bit of experimentation to understand how Snap filters work or what’s the most trendy song. Combine them both, and you have a popular Snap that is attractive for students.
Other reasons to use Snapchat as a networking tool for college learners are:
- Class students get to know each other better through social media communication, which improves interaction with newbies.
- It highlights the university’s initiative to engage with learners and help them with their studies.
- Parents of the students can see the college as invested in the facilities provided on the campus.
- Sometimes the alumni of the university also remember their teachers and classes, which encourages current students to actively participate in college activities.
College Competitions and Scholarships Updates
Gone are the days when the only way to know about a university was from their brochure, or website, or posters on the class board.
By utilizing the amazing filters of Snapchat, colleges can send notifications about upcoming college competitions and scholarships.
It is highly useful for students to share information about exam schedules, new facilities provided on the campus, book clubs, sports competitions, etc.
Colleges are also using it to highlight awards, wins, and guest speakers to inspire students.
STATISTICS
The graph shows that most of the audience on Snapchat is between the ages of 18 and 24 years old, as recorded in April 2023.
Promoting an Inclusive Environment
Snapchat has become the symbol of youth, with students from all over the world engaging actively.
This is a golden opportunity for universities to highlight the inclusivity of their campuses. After all, college life is like a mini-world where people from different states or countries come to achieve their goals.
When different hobbies and interests of students are showcased through interesting Snapchat stories, it improves the brand of the educational institute as a place that promotes diversity.
Final Thoughts
Educationists who still hesitate to adopt Snapchat should try to experiment with the latest trends without making harsh judgements.
Yes, we often tell our youth about the disadvantages of social media, but it can also be used as an opportunity to understand and connect with students in a less formal manner.
This is a new way of promoting visual learning, improving attendance, updating campus information, and promoting inclusivity.
Snapchat is the bridge that can be utilized to connect the gap between students and teachers by sharing updates in a creative and fun way.
